Toto

by A.J. Hackwith

The true hero of The Wizard of Oz takes center stage in this brilliant, delightfully snarky reimagining from the author of The Library of the Unwritten.

“Heartfelt and often hilarious. . . . Toto takes his place among the pantheon of Very Good literary canines.”—The Washington Post

I was mostly a Good Dog until they sold me out to animal control, okay?

But if it’s a choice between Oz, with its creepy little singing dudes, and being behind bars in gray old Kansas, I’ll choose the place where animals talk and run the show for now, thanks.

It’s not my fault that the kid is stuck here too, or that she stumbled into a tug-of-war over a pair of slippers that don’t even taste good. Now one witch in good eyeliner calls her pretty and we’re off on a quest? Teenagers.

I try to tell her she’s falling in with the wrong crowd when she befriends a freaking hedge wizard made of straw, that blue jay with revolutionary aspirations, and the walking tin can. Still, I’m not one to judge when there’s the small matter of a coup in the Forest Kingdom....

Look, something really stinks in Oz, and this Wizard guy and the witches positively reek of it. As usual, it’s going to be up to a sensible little dog to do a big dog’s job and get to the bottom of it.

And trust Little dogs can get away with anything.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Retellings, Animals, Young Adult, Adventure

Audible Audio

First published November 12, 2024

About the author

A. J. Hackwith is (almost) certainly not an ink witch in a hoodie. She's a queer writer of fantasy and science fiction living in the Pacific Northwest, and writes sci-fi romance as Ada Harper. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise writer's workshop and her work appears in Uncanny Magazine and assorted anthologies. Summon A.J. at your own peril with an arcane circle of fountain pens and classic RPGs, or you can find her on Twitter and other dark corners of the Internet.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was kind of fun. I mean, is it even possible to dislike a book that's narrated by a snarky terrier? I think not.

Honestly, though, I have to admit that I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I thought I would. I'm a big fan of both anthropomorphic animals and snarky humor, so I really expected this to be a five-star read. And, well, it was amusing. But was it mind-blowingly awesome? Eh, not quite. Overall, it was probably a solid 3.75 stars for me.

So, what did I like?

Toto, obviously. He's feisty and witty and brave and totally the best good (bad?) boy ever. And the Wicked Witch of the West is absolutely delightful … in a wicked witch sort of way, of course.

I really enjoy the “found family” trope, and Toto certainly didn't disappoint there. All of the characters from the original Oz make an appearance, and Dorothy and Toto also make a few new friends this time around.

There's a revolution led by birds who call each other “comrade,” one of them being a bird named Crow who isn't actually a crow. Need I say more?

And, finally, this is a super imaginative and original retelling of The Wizard of Oz. It's enough like the original that you kind of have a general idea of what's going to happen, yet it veers off in its own direction often enough that you're constantly surprised. It's kind of the best of both worlds, I think?

So what did I not enjoy?

Well, I can't really say that I “didn't enjoy” any of it. It was a fun read. But I do feel as if the characters' relationships with each other were lacking a little. Not all of them, but (the Cowardly) Lion, for example, really didn't seem to develop a relationship with anyone. He was just kind of … there.

This book also can't quite decide whether it's a dark retelling of Oz or not. When Scarecrow is first introduced, I was all “ooh, heck yeah, creepy!” and then ... nothing ever really happens with it? The Tin Man, too, to a certain extent. And there are several other points where things briefly seem (awesomely) dark and disturbing, but then it just kind of peters out.

But, still, I can't complain too much. Toto is a light, enjoyable read narrated by a witty canine. It's not perfect, but it is a whole lot of fun.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ace for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is November 12, 2024.

[Will Byrnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every dog has the Growl in it, no matter how big or little, how scruffy or cute, how pampered, old, or toothless. Every dog has in the first wolf barely coaxed to a campfire. Maybe we never have a chance to use it in our kind lives, and our humans would never suspect. But if we do, it’s because none of us, not a single pup, has forgotten the first campfire. And though we have taken on many jobs for our humans since then, there is one that is summarized in the Growl.
This One Is Mine to Protect

--------------------------------------

Ninety percent of magic is public opinion.

I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. Well, after animal control had tried taking Toto, maybe that is not a bad thing.


A.J. Hackwith - image from her site - shot by Karen Osborne.

The Wizard of Oz is arguably the first modern American fairy tale, and Dorothy one of the first prototypes for the army of empowered, female YA protagonists we have today. And growing up as a rural girl in Nebraska—one hop north of Dorothy’s Kansas—it’s no surprise then that I was desperately obsessed with the story. I always wanted to find the rainbow, yellow brick road, or magic slippers that would take me somewhere else. I always wanted to pay homage to Oz, and as a lifelong dog lover, it felt natural that Toto’s perspective was the way into a whole new view of the classic story. - from the Writers Digest interview

Hackwith has quite a bit of fun reimagining the OZ we all know. Dorothy is a contemporary teen in a hoodie, with a smartphone, but she is still pure of heart. The Scarecrow is much as he was in the film. The Tin Woodsman, Nick Chopper, is a self-made construct of impressive stature and physical capacity, (Baum had written a bit of back story about him. See EXTRA STUFF for this) with a vocabulary reminiscent of Groot. He is accompanied by a bad-ass sister, a knight, (Lettie) who is not at all metallic.


All the Oz illustrations in this review by W.W. Denslow. are from the 1900 publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Cowardly Lion is a bit of a scaredy cat but more a very reserved, thoughtful feline. The Wizard may know a thing or two, but is very much a crook. There is a revolutionary bluejay who thinks he is a crow. There is a bubble-propelled witch. And flying monkey sorts loyal to the witch we all know and love. A young one, an engineer, less crusty that her peers, plays a key role.



And then there is Toto, front and center, able to speak and be understood, by most folks anyway, full of snarky commentary and struggling with the benefits of being a good dog or a bad dog. I mean if he had been a good dog, and animal control came for him anyway, what was the actual point? He will struggle throughout. Unlike his role in the original story, Toto has a lot more agency here, engaging in adventures away from Dorothy.

Imagine the flattest, grayest, most cornfed place you can imagine. Now add depression and life wrecked by late-stage capitalism. That’s Kansas. It’s like the dull beginning of every ad for pharmaceuticals right before Xylohappitoxin or whatever fixes everything. Sure, I make the best of it. Stealing socks and digging in old lady Brumley’s garden. But me and Dorothy are meant for bigger things, like destiny and boss battles and whatever that “Likeandsubscribe” stuff is the glass-people are hype about. - from the Fresh Fiction piece

Tasks are assigned to our travelling troupe by local bigshots. Bring me this, bring me that. Shoes are given a bit more attention than in the film, silver this time instead of ruby red, in keeping with the novel instead of the film.

There is commentary on politics; the bluejay is fond of holding forth with leftist pronunciations that will be laughingly familiar to any who have had connection with such folks; manipulators encourage people to do the wrong things; a race of beings has been subjugated; a leader pillages a natural environment to the detriment of all. Haves take advantage of have-nots…and on.

When Frank L. Baum sat down to write the The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, his country was in a state of turmoil which might seem very, very familiar to us these days. Economic and international pressures were ripping apart the perceived stability of the middle class. Hotly contested initiatives like the silver standard are referenced in Dorothy’s own silver shoes (changed to ruby for the technicolor movie). Populist leaders are lambasted in characters like the Cowardly Lion and the Emerald City itself can be read as a giant allegory to the capitalist power of Wall Street in Baum’s era. Oz was never a sterile product of pure imagination. The books reflected Baum’s opinions on the realities of the world. - from the Nerd Daily piece

This is a satire, so there are many fun flicks at the source material, as well as the political scene. And homages as well. Of course, it helps to be familiar with more than merely the 1939 film. The original novel would be a good place to start. The Broadway show and then film of The Wiz, and many more. L. Frank Baum wrote fourteen Oz novels, and short stories beyond. Many were written under pseudonyms. And even after Baum died, his publisher continued publishing Oz books by other writers. Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, (then Broadway show, then film) Wicked, and several subsequent novels, offer more source material. And there are even many more Oz books by other writers.



Of course, any literary road trip is a journey of self-discovery. Toto will resolve some things; Dorothy will plot a course for herself; and the rest of the gang will find their ways forward as well. But as with any road trip, it is the journey that is of interest and not the ultimate destination(s). Dorothy’s (and Totos’) actual feelings about Kansas are given a look. Dorothy has a the chance to be her own person in a challenging world, and consider what she might do with herself if given the opportunity. There is plenty of resonance here for many of us who felt, for various reasons, constrained by our beginnings.

You ever feel trapped in a family you don’t belong in? In a place that’s just so . . . so that it’s suffocating? That you know there’s more, so much more, out there, and it’s worth seeing, and every day you wake up in the same bed is like drowning a teaspoon at a time? I never wanted—I just . . .” She took in a sharp breath, catching herself. Her gaze refocused away from the window and back on me. For a flicker beat she looked like a duotype print of Dorothy. Hair obscured in soft shadow, a dark wardrobe that could have included the ratty tee Dorothy slept in when she finally peeled off the hoodie on the weekends . . . and a face so full of hunger-pang sadness, it could swallow the world with those wide eyes.

Hackwith’s look at the surviving wicked witch is a delight.

There may be no place like home, but who says we can have only one home in our lives? Toto is a fun romp through the OZ of our memories and/or imaginations. It is listed as YA, and I am sure it will appeal to that demo, but it was a fun read, particularly for an old dog like me, with long memories to be touched, revived, and beguiled.

This is the thing tall people, even tall dogs, never understand. Everyone looks at the world from three, four, even five feet up in the air. That’s where all the deception is. Everyone makes sure things look nice from that angle. Tables are kept tidy. Skirts are pressed. Floorboards are swept. Railings are dusted. Everyone wants to make a nice impression, tell a nice story from their point of view.
But when you see the world from five inches off the ground? That’s when you get the unvarnished truth.

Review posted - 01/31/25

Publication date – 11/12/24

I received an ARE of Toto from Ace in return for a fair review. Thanks, folks, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.



This review is cross-posted on my site, Coot’s Reviews. Stop by and say Hi!

=============================EXTRA STUFF

Links to Hackwith’s personal, FB, Instagram, and Twitter pages

Profile – from Penguin Random House

A. J. Hackwith (she/they) is (almost) certainly not an ink witch in a hoodie. She’s a queer writer of fantasy and science fiction living in the woods of the Pacific Northwest with her partner and various pet cryptids. A.J. is the author of a number of fantasy novels, including the acclaimed LIBRARY OF THE UNWRITTEN fantasy trilogy. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise writer’s workshop and her work appears in Uncanny Magazine and assorted anthologies. Summon A.J. at your own peril with an arcane circle of fountain pens, weird collections of rusted keys, and homebrew D&D accessories.

Interview
-----Writers Digest - A. J. Hackwith: On the Fortitude of Little Dogs - with Robert Lee Brewer

Items of Interest from the author
-----Fresh Fiction - . J. Hackwith | Conversations in Character with Toto
-----Google Play Books - excerpt
-----Wikipedia - Tin Woodman - on how Nick Chopper became the Tin Woodman as per L. Frank Baum
-----Nerd Daily - Storytelling Is Political, And That’s A Good Thing

Items of Interest
-----Gutenberg - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
-----Gutenberg - The Tin Woodman of Oz by L. Frank Baum
-----Youtube- Heartless – The Story of the Tin Man - 22:48
-----Wiki - Groot

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take it from a dog who has accomplished many calculated hijinks with his sterling reputation intact—you can get away with a lot of terrible shit when you're small and cute.

Hackwith has written an updated version of Oz. After all, Frank L. Baum wrote the original tale 125 years ago. Dorothy in this version wears jeans and hoodies. She carries a pocket screen which she and Toto use to watch videos. She may live in Kansas, but she's plugged into internet culture. In other words, she is a 21st century Dorothy. And the other main characters get a fresh look too. The Scarecrow began life as hedge witch; the Tinman has been transformed from human (with a patriarchal incel leaning) and he comes with a Munchkin sister/defender; and the Cowardly Lion is maybe less cowardly than cautious.

When Dorothy and Toto end up in Oz, Toto enters his Bad Dog era. Finally, he can talk and be understood. He can use that terrier brain to keep them safe in this tricky new world. He may aspire to be a Bad Boy, but he is the one starting their networking, making friends with a Blue Jay named Crow. A would-be revolutionary, Crow wants to overthrow the elites who run Oz (or at least cause some mayhem). Toto is a perfect pal for him: When in doubt, cause chaos. That’s the motto of terriers everywhere, and it’s always served us well.

I've only read the first book of Baum's Oz series, so I may have missed a bunch of references. Also, I've only seen glimpses of the movie, but I think I prefer Hackwith's Rooks to Baum's flying monkeys. This was a perfect summer read, complete with snappy dialogue and magical action galore.

[Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

Toto has been spending too much time on the internet

[Haly Hoards Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hilariously funny retelling of The Wizard of Oz told from the perspective of Toto. In the beginning of the book nearly every page has laugh out loud statements from Toto. His opinions regarding animal control, the neighbor's cat, the Minchkins, Glenda and the land of Oz in general are spot on if you think like a dog.

The middle of the book slows down considerably in both hilarity and story pace; however, it is full of beautiful world building and character development. Some of the fun returns after Toto and Crow, who is a bluejay full of enthusiasm for "the revolution," become best buddies.

The ending is full of twists and turns that are not fully expected. If you aren't reaching for tissues to wipe away your tears you have not been lucky enough to have great friends.

I recommend Toto to dog lovers, all animal lovers, and anyone who likes action packed stories.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Things I love:
-Wicked
-The Wizard of Oz movie
-dogs
-Books from a dog’s perspective
-retellings
All the reasons I thought this book would be amazing for me. Turns out I probably needed to know more about the original Oz books. Lots of things from the original were present here. I have read another retelling series that had some similar elements from the original. What worked for me in that retelling and Wicked, was the fresh perspective and the lack of an identifiable time period. They could have taken place in 1925 or 2225. Toto very clearly takes place now or in a time near now. There are mentions of social media, cell phones, fashion trends, etc. This also felt like it had a social and political agenda from our time. Some of the references and comments about how Dorothy and others were acting were jarring. It was way too obvious. You can still explore social themes but in a way that is much more subtle. WIcked does this quite nicely. The social themes were relevant 15 years ago and are still relevant today. In addition to these concerns, after a great start this slowed to a screeching halt in the middle. I quickly lost interest and struggled to even skim to finish. I wanted to love this and am so disappointed that I didn’t. The cover is fantastic!

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Toto, A J Hackwith masterfully reimagines L. Frank Baum's beloved classic The Wizard of Oz from an unexpected yet delightful perspective—that of Dorothy's loyal canine companion. This fresh adaptation brings wit, depth, and contemporary relevance to a familiar story, while maintaining the whimsy and wonder that made the original a timeless classic.

A Tale Retold Through New Eyes

A J Hackwith's narrative chronicles the familiar journey to Oz through Toto's sardonic, insightful, and often hilarious point of view. Our four-legged protagonist finds himself questioning what it means to be a "Good Dog" versus a "Bad Dog" after being betrayed by Dorothy's aunt and uncle, who attempt to surrender him to animal control. When a tornado sweeps both Toto and Dorothy into the magical land of Oz, the story transforms into something entirely new - a meditation on loyalty, identity, and the complicated nature of good and evil.

Character Development & World-Building

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its rich character development. Toto emerges as a complex, three-dimensional character wrestling with deep existential questions while maintaining his essential "dogness." His internal conflict between being a Good Dog or Bad Dog serves as a clever metaphor for broader themes of morality and self-discovery.

Dorothy, too, receives thoughtful development beyond her traditional portrayal. Hackwith presents her as a modern teenager dealing with loss, isolation, and the pressure to conform, making her relatable to contemporary readers while honoring the spirit of the original character.

Supporting Cast

The supporting characters shine with fresh interpretations:

- Scarecrow becomes a hedge wizard grappling with questions of identity and belonging
- The Cowardly Lion transforms into a thoughtful strategist masquerading as a coward
- The Tin Man (Chopper) and his sister Lettie provide a poignant exploration of family bonds
- Crow, a revolutionary blue jay insisting he's a crow, adds both comedy and commentary on authenticity

Writing Style & Tone

A J Hackwith's prose is sharp, witty, and engaging, perfectly capturing Toto's canine perspective while weaving in sophisticated themes. The author strikes an impressive balance between humor and gravity, using Toto's observations to comment on everything from politics to personal growth. The dog-specific metaphors and descriptions add authenticity to the narrative voice while providing countless moments of clever wordplay.

Themes & Social Commentary

The novel tackles several contemporary themes with nuance:

- Identity and authenticity
- Family dynamics and loyalty
- Power structures and revolution
- Prejudice and acceptance
- The nature of good and evil

Areas for Improvement

While largely successful, the novel does have some minor weaknesses:

1. The pacing occasionally slows in the middle sections, particularly during the political machinations in the Beast Kingdom.
2. Some readers might find the more complex political elements challenging to follow, especially younger audiences expecting a simpler retelling.
3. The resolution of certain plot threads feels slightly rushed, particularly regarding the Wizard's ultimate fate.

Final Verdict

Toto by A J Hackwith offers a clever, heartfelt, and thought-provoking addition to the world of Oz. Hackwith has created something rare—a retelling that honors its source material while being entirely its own creature. The novel's few shortcomings are far outweighed by its innovations and heart.

[Brian Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

[2.75] As I started reading Hackwith’s reimagining of a classic tale, I wondered if I risked subjecting myself to Oz Overdose. In the span of four months, I saw the Broadway touring production of “The Wiz,” watched the film version of “Wicked,” and then saw “Toto” appear on my library holds list. How many Munchkin musings can one absorb in a short period without melting?

Thanks to the author’s creative twists and sense of humor, this concern was unfounded. It wasn’t Oz Overdose that triggered my mediocre rating. It was the storyline that simply didn’t keep my interest and the wise-cracking canine that went from being mildly amusing in the early chapters to downright annoying and repetitive by the end (how many good dog/bad dog internal monologues can even a tolerant reader withstand?) By the start of the second half, I realized I just didn’t care what happened to these iconic characters.

To be clear: Hackwith deserves 4 stars for ingenuity as she strived to blend an array of modern twists to Dorothy’s adventures. But the overall execution hovered near 2 stars. Sadly, this was a disappointing journey down the yellow brick road.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever, present-day reimagining of the original Oz story as experienced from Toto's POV, with just enough plot twists and new characters to keep it from being a straight-up retelling. A solid 3.5 stars, but unfortunately I have to round down for a too-complicated last act, (although not deducting points for the fact that Hackwith pounds the "Good Dog/Bad Dog" nail WAY too hard, like on virtually every page — we get it already!).

[Brigette · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book sounded great - taking a beloved tale and telling it from a different perspective: Toto’s! However I soon realized I did not like this book. I did not like the writing style and it was just trying too hard to be Gen Z. It is overall the same story but when I was about 40% through I started skipping further ahead and it still took forever.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

This was fun! When she was little, my oldest daughter was obsessed with The Wizard of Oz. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this movie. I have a huge soft spot for dogs, so the idea of a retelling of The Wizard of Oz from Toto’s point of view felt like something that I just had to experience. It was so entertaining to see this story with a few updates from such an original point of view.

It turns out that Toto is a snarky little guy. It was great to see so many familiar characters in this more modern look at Oz. We also get to meet a few more key characters which adds a new layer to the original story. Toto has a lot to say and the residents in Oz can understand him, everyone except Dorothy unfortunately. The group runs into plenty of trouble during their quest to have the wizard grant their requests.

André Santana does a fantastic job with the narration of this book. He handled the voices of the varied cast of characters very well which helped to bring the story to life. He added just the right amount of emotion to the reading to take the book to the next level and I thought he handled the more comical moments of the story very well. I am certain that his performance added to my enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that it was a very imaginative and entertaining retelling. The story did drag just a bit for me at times but it was a very enjoyable read overall. I do hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.

I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up, the Wizard of Oz was the first movie I saw and I became obsessed with it. I dressed up as Dorothy for Halloween and I had figures and stuffed animals from the movie. I then devoured the Oz book series and quite enjoyed the movie “Return to Oz”. As an adult, I read “Wicked” when it first came out and recently saw the movie adaptation. So I was very excited to see that there was going to be another story in Oz, this time from our favorite four legged friend!
Toto is snarky, funny, and drops pop culture & social commentary throughout, and I couldn’t get enough. It did take me a little aback at the beginning when I realized that this visit to Oz takes place in our time and not like the original movie, but that didn’t take away anything from the story. I loved getting to know Toto before he met Dorothy, and his interactions with the familiar (and not so familiar) figures in Oz. I also appreciated that Dorothy herself was a strong female character and didn’t need rescuing (too much) like in other iterations.
Now we need a movie version of this book, but who would voice Toto???

[Ana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just like many other reviewers I only picked up this book, because I loved the Hell's Library trilogy. It was fun, surprising, and novel.

This book... I think I actually hate it. After a few chapters I came here to read reviews, pondering if I should bother to continue and as some said it gets better towards the end I decided to skim through the rest. It did not get better and I'm so glad I'm done with it.

I have no idea what the target audience is for this book. It's trying to be funny, but it's not. It's trying to be surprising, but it's boring. It's too simplistic, shallow and ANNOYING to be for adults. It's dropping f-bombs so it's not for children either. It changed a bunch of details from the OG to be for the hard-core Oz fans. I couldn't wait for it to end.

I hope the writer goes back to the witty style of HL.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave this a try because I really enjoyed the author's previous series and I have always been a big fan of the Oz series. I find as a reader, though, I do not enjoy this type of retelling when you go through the entire original story again but with some minor differences and/or new commentary. I could tell right away that Toto's snarky narration was going to get old and it only took the first two chapters to do so. It also lacked nuance.

Also, because I just read the original with my child, I wished the author either chose the book or movie as the structure for the story rather than combining details from both.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this Wizard of Oz retelling from the POV of Toto. It was creative and fun. There were so many funny one liners, you have to be paying attention at 100% to not miss any of the gems! 


Be warned Sir Toto is not a fan of cats, check out one of the things he said:

"Dogs are social animals, we are not stupid like cats"😂

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story. It was told in modern times. Yet, another version of 3W (Wicked Witch of the West). All of the characters were relatable. If you're a lover of OZ, this is a MUST READ!!!

[soph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled to finish the book, resorted to skimming just to get through it. Toto’s inner dialogue was fun at first but I lost interest real fast and honestly just didn’t care what happened to any of the characters awks.

[Sarah Brooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t even finish this one. It was just rough - for a potentially really fun retelling of The Wizard of Oz… I returned it after reading 27%… it was not worth my time. I don’t have a lot of time, so I decided I wouldn’t continue on if I’m not enjoying it. The bird thing was out in left field and the really kind of fun/creepy/dark parts of the story never really developed.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew Toto was such a Bad Dog!? This book was so fun and I loved the story from not only Toto’s perspective but one that’s been a bit updated. If you love Wizard of Oz, this is a must read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy.

[Dana0123 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope, not my kind of read

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toto by AJ Hackwith, in this book we learn Toto isn’t the sweet lovable terrier we all fell in love within the Wizard of Oz, but a dog with a foul mouth, who has given up on being a good boy. Trust me when I say this is not your grandmas Wizard of Oz for one thing Toto explains the happenings in the book and I loved all the things he observed that I never even thought about. I do want to say this isn’t the standard Wizard of Oz story there’s other characters in the book who weren’t in the movie but maybe in the original story I DK. What I do know is this is a funny laugh out loud version of an old favorite that I know I am going to read again. It is one of those books I believe every reading is going to show you something you missed the last time. I do want to mention this book is set in the present and the characters weren’t flushed out and they seemed a bit flat but I believe the humor carries the story and it’s a story I really enjoyed.
#NetGalley, #BerkeleyPublishing, #AJHackwith, #Toto, #WizardOfOz,

[Lynne Krichbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Everyone knows the story, but this book from Totos point of view is quite funny and clever. Some new characters are introduced, but the basic premise of the original story remains. There are several twists and different outcomes that I found entertaining. Two thumbs(paws) up for me.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m crashing out

[Samantha Parker-Zillich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun new take on The Wizard of Oz, especially after recently watching Wicked! It made me think about the original in a whole new way.

[Kahlia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good moments (particularly in relation to exploring the darker side of Oz), but the POV ultimately didn't work for me. Animal POVs are difficult to pull off and this one was inconsistent

[Joseph Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a 3.5 star.

I like the story but there was just something missing for me. When I read the blurb, I thought the book was going to be a funny laugh out loud, knee slapper. Well that fell short, way short!

[Martin Maenza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Berkley Publishing Group provided an early galley for review.

I was not familiar with Hackwith's earlier works (three novels in the Hell's Library series), so jumping in on their first standalone novel where they take a page out of Gregory Macguire's playbook (i.e. doing a reinterpretation of an Oz story) felt like a safe starting place. From a very young age, I was a fan of the enchanting world created by Frank L. Baum anyway. So, why not?

Right out of the gate, the reader gets enough details to tell this one hundred and twenty-four year old tale has been brought into the 21st Century (thanks to the original material being long out of copyright bounds). Like the original tale was a reflective commentary of the times, Toto touches upon elements of pop culture, social media and political trends. It could have gone harder though, really brining this into the 21st Century.

Giving us the story from a dog's perspective is certainly novel. However, this particular narrative view can be a double-edged sword. Every situation and interaction comes from the lens of the pet protagonist, albeit a rather smarter one thanks to effects of the magical land Toto and Dorothy find themselves in. But it is a dog's interpretation and thus ultimately a bit limited. Also, in the original story Toto tends to be more of an observer so I feared his role would be limited in a similar capacity here. Turns out, here he's right in the center of everything that happens, but I still felt that he was more of an observer and commentator.

And that's really what had me losing focus several times. I felt like I was missing the depth of the other characters. They came across as flat, one-dimensional and at times uninteresting.

The more I wanted from a retelling/reimagining just wasn't there.

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was it cute? Sure, but was it worth reading? No. Toto’s voice was insufferable, it was written to sound like an annoying gen z or gen alpha or whatever stupid name is used for the younger generations. But it was a miss because it really came off like an old person trying to pretend to be young. However, I pushed through the hatred I had for the first half the story and got a tiny bit interested for the second half of the book, just enough to finish the book and give it a generous 2 stars.

Another big flaw with this story is the actual storytelling or (shitty) writing itself, I don’t know how to explain it but many scenes were so hard to follow or understand because the writing didn’t give enough detail about the scenes. Many pages I read and then afterwards thought, ‘wtf just happened in the story?’ It didn’t translate across the page well.

[Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love The Wizard of Oz, but Toto is a No no for me.

[Penny Cipolone · Rating 2 out of 5]

A clever book but sometimes annoyingly so. This took me a long time to read because I just never felt like picking the book up. Cute but not enough to win me over.